Marilou Johanek, Ohio Capital Journal, Author at Cleveland Scene

A gavel statue outside of the Ohio Supreme Court.

Republican Ohio Supreme Court Makes Ohio First State to Allow Political Endorsements From Judges

When a judge participates in another person’s political campaign, his impartiality can be questioned, Justice Patrick Fischer wrote in a dissent.

by Marilou Johanek, Ohio Capital Journal April 22, 2026April 22, 2026

Ohio News

Republican SAVE Act Will Make It Much Harder for Ohioans and Millions Across U.S. to Vote

It’s not just simple voter ID. It would require a passport or birth, marriage, name-change, and/or divorce documentation to be able to vote.

by Marilou Johanek, Ohio Capital Journal March 24, 2026March 24, 2026

Ohio News

Ohio Has the Second Largest Somali Community in America. Trump’s Racist Rant Puts Them in Danger

“When the president of the United States, the leader of the free world, attacks a community he knows is not in a position to fight back, it’s hard not to be scared.”

by Marilou Johanek, Ohio Capital Journal December 12, 2025December 12, 2025

Ohio News

Allowing Politicians to Stay in Charge of Ohio Redistricting Has Just Led to More Gerrymandering

Ohio voters have said time and again they want fair maps. Elected officials won’t listen.

by Marilou Johanek, Ohio Capital Journal November 4, 2025November 4, 2025

News & Views

Ohio Gov. DeWine Sending Guard Troops to D.C. Makes Him Complicit in Trump’s Military Occupation

DeWine must know the bizarre, militarized occupation of D.C. is based on fallacies about rising Washington crime debunked by data that proves otherwise.

by Marilou Johanek, Ohio Capital Journal August 20, 2025September 9, 2025

News & Views

Republican Politicians Looking to Gerrymander Ohio and Texas to Protect U.S. House Majority

Trump won Ohio with 55% of the vote, but Republican politicians want to gerrymander 80% of the state’s U.S. House districts for themselves.

by Marilou Johanek, Ohio Capital Journal July 23, 2025August 17, 2025

News & Views

‘Christian’ Lobbyists Embrace Ohio Republican Budget That Guts Programs to Help the Poor and Hungry

A budget that takes resources away from hard-working Ohio families to give handouts to the rich is not pro-family, pro-life, or pro-children.

by Marilou Johanek, Ohio Capital Journal June 18, 2025June 30, 2025

News & Views

Browns Owners Gave Big Money to Ohio Lawmakers Who Now Look to Make a Risky Bet With Public Dollars

Meanwhile, lawmakers are slashing funds for education, libraries, and even infant mortality programs and pediatric cancer research

by Marilou Johanek, Ohio Capital Journal April 16, 2025July 7, 2025

News & Views

Republican Playbook in Ohio Mirrors Trump’s Union-Busting and Attacks on Voters and Education

The DeWine administration replicated the bullying and financial extortion of universities and colleges in the Trump administration to crush academic independence and chill speech

by Marilou Johanek, Ohio Capital Journal April 1, 2025April 22, 2025